Local business owners and community members traded their everyday roles for the runway Wednesday, Sept. 23, during the Celtic Ranch’s annual Celtic Couture Fall Fashion Show.

The ticketed event, held in the Upper Snug at 404 Main St., gave guests an early look at the store’s fall collection of clothing and accessories imported from Ireland, Scotland and elsewhere in the British Isles.

Models presented sweaters, cardigans, coats, ponchos, hats, handbags and other pieces from brands including West End Knitwear, Aran Woollen Mills, Mucros Weavers, Saol Knitwear and Emerald Isle. Presenters also shared information about the manufacturers and the traditional patterns and materials incorporated into the clothing.

The evening included appetizers, specialty cocktails and raffle prizes donated by the Celtic Ranch and other Weston businesses. Guests were also entered to win a $150 Celtic Ranch shopping spree.

After the show, ticket holders received the first opportunity to shop the new collection and a 10% discount on in-store purchases.

The event grew from a problem the Celtic Ranch encountered during the COVID-19 pandemic, manager Cara Welliver said. When staff members could not travel to Ireland to select merchandise in 2020, vendors sent samples of their new products to Weston.

The Celtic Ranch presented the options to customers, who voted on their favorites. Those votes helped determine which pieces the store ordered for its fall inventory.

“That’s how the fashion show was born,” Welliver said.

The first show included an online component and a small number of masked participants inside the store. Models walked up and down the building’s stairs as customers watched remotely. Welliver said the show continued in that format for about two and a half years before moving into the Upper Snug.

“Now we like it more intimate upstairs,” she said, adding that customers now ask about the event throughout the year.

Many of the models were returning participants. Trent Shenefield of Weston Chiropractic said he came back for a second year because of the opportunity to try on the clothing and interact with the audience.

Shenefield compared the activity behind the scenes to working backstage during a theater production. Models moved quickly between clothing changes before lining up in the hallway for their next turn.

“Everything’s laid out with your name on it,” Shenefield said. “You think you might have a couple minutes, and then it’s like, ‘OK, you need to be out there now.’”

For Mallory Seckman, the show provided more than a preview of the fall collection. Seckman, who moved to Weston nearly six years ago, learned about the event during a visit to the Whiskey Snug and decided to attend alone.

“I was skeptical because I didn’t really have anybody to come with,” Seckman said. “But it was so nice. Everyone was very welcoming.”

She said the local models and donated raffle prizes reflected the connections among Weston businesses and residents.

“You don’t know until you go and try it,” Seckman said. “I did it, and I’m glad I did.”

Leslie Lozy, who lives near the Piper area of Kansas City, also attended on her own after seeing an advertisement during an earlier visit to the Celtic Ranch. She left the show with a new purse and several additional items on her wish list.

“It’s a great atmosphere,” Lozy said. “It’s fun.”

Following the models’ final walk, guests moved downstairs to shop the collection they had just seen on the runway.